Craig Kimbrel Called Up by Mets amid Bullpen Woes, RP Won World Series in 2018

After their relievers combined to allow 10 runs in the last three games, the New York Mets are hoping Craig Kimbrel can provide a spark in the bullpen.

Kimbrel is being called up from the minors ahead of Saturday's game against the Athletics, as first noted by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The Mets bullpen overall this season has been solid. They enter play on Saturday with the sixth-best ERA in MLB (2.85), but some of the individuals within that group have been a disappointment.

Luis García has allowed 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in 5.1 innings. Luke Weaver started the season with four scoreless outings before allowing two runs in 0.2 innings in the seventh inning of Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tobias Myers allowed three runs in the ninth inning on Friday against the Athletics to turn a one-run game in favor of the Athletics into a 4-0 deficit for the Mets.

Another issue for Mets relievers has been an inability to miss bats. Their 7.04 strikeouts per nine innings is ahead of only the St. Louis Cardinals (6.92) and Washington Nationals (6.52).

St. Louis and Washington rank in the bottom 10 in MLB in bullpen ERA.

Kimbrel signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in January. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on March 22 after informing Kimbrel he didn't make the Opening Day roster that he was open to accepting an assignment to the minors, but the right-hander was also weighing his options.

Ultimately, Kimbrel reported to the minors and appeared in one game in A ball with the Mets' affiliate in St. Lucie. He struck out one in a scoreless inning on April 7.

A nine-time All-Star, Kimbrel ranks second among active pitchers with 440 career saves. He won a World Series title in 2018 as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

The Mets will host the Athletics at Citi Field looking to snap their three-game losing streak on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET.